Charles Leclerc is punished for swearing at a conference, following in the footsteps of Max Verstappen

Charles Leclercthe talented Ferrari driver, recently faced consequences for his choice of language during a press conference at the Mexican Grand Prix. Leclerc was fined €10,000, half of which was suspended for a year, after an incident in which he used an expletive while talking about a close call during the race.

What happened immediately provoked an apology from Leclerc, as he expressed his regret and humorously acknowledged the possibility of intervening The footsteps of Max Verstappen.

“Oh, sorry! Oh, no, oh no! I don’t want to go with Max!” he joked.

The inappropriate language referred to oversteer that almost caused Leclerc to lose control of his car, prompting a strong response from the Monegasque. Despite the tension and exhaustion that comes with competing in a race like this, Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, is strict on public behavior. The offense falls under Article 12.2.1.k of the International Sporting Code, which prohibits the use of inappropriate language in public settings such as press conferences.

The FIA ​​stewards took several factors into account when determining Leclerc’s penalty. They admitted that Leclerc’s immediate apology differentiated his case from Verstappen’s earlier incident in Singapore. Verstappen’s foul language resulted in community service due to the lack of an immediate apology. This prompted the stewards to impose a lighter punishment on Leclerc, with €5,000 of the fine conditionally waived on the basis that no further offenses were committed within a twelve-month period.

This situation arises against an increasingly vigilant backdrop to the language used by F1 drivers. Under the leadership of President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA ​​has focused its efforts on maintaining a professional tone in public forums. Sulayem’s comments sparked unintentional controversy because they contained comparisons that some believe exploit stereotypes.

“We have to distinguish between our sport – motor racing – and rap music. We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times a minute? We’re not about that. That’s them and we’re (us). ” His statements provoked criticism, with prominent figures such as Lewis Hamilton suggesting that the message perpetuates racial stereotypes.

While Verstappen was surprised by the inconsistencies in the penalties.

“Apparently it only matters to me, because you know, after the race in Mexico someone was cursing. I didn’t hear anything about it.”